3D Model Viewer vs BrushForge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
3D Model Viewer
Explore and interact with 3D models on your mobile device. Simulate the 3D printing process to identify potential issues before committing to a print. Visualize your models in augmented reality, adjusting scale and rotation within your real-world environment.
- View 3D models in real-time
- Rotate, zoom, and paint models
- Simulate 3D printing process
- View models in AR mode
- Adjust scale and rotation in AR
- Supports multiple 3D file formats
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Have you ever wanted to view and interact with 3D Models? 3D Model Viewer allows you to view compatible 3D Models using your mobile device. You can even simulate 3D Printing and view your model in AR mode! -- View 3D Models Import and view your 3D models in real time, rotating, zooming and painting! -- Simulate 3D Printing Watch a simulation of your model being 3D printed from bottom to top and identify any potential problems with the model without wasting any printing material! -- AR Mode View your 3D models inserted into the real world, being able to adjust scale and rotation! -- Compatible with many formats 3D Model Viewer supports the following formats: .stl, .obj*, .abc, .ply, .usdz, .usd, .usda, .dae *.obj files can be imported with textures in the format of a .zip file 3D Model Viewer is now available for all iOS devices!
BrushForge
This app helps miniature painters organize their paint collections, convert colors between brands, and build custom color palettes. It offers AI-powered suggestions and works offline, allowing users to focus on their creative projects.
- Instant color conversion across dozens of brands
- Scan paint rack to inventory collection
- Track owned paints and create wishlists
- Build custom painting recipes and palettes
- Check model contrast with black & white view
- AI-powered color suggestions
- Offline functionality
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BrushForge – Complete Miniature Painting Toolkit BrushForge helps miniature painters track their paint collection, compare colors across brands, build palettes, save recipes, and plan painting sessions with less guesswork. Use it for Warhammer, tabletop, RPG miniatures, scale models, and hobby projects of every size. Key Features: Paint Converter Find close paint matches across popular miniature paint brands including Citadel, Vallejo, The Army Painter, Scale75, and more. Paint Collection Tracker Track the paints you own, mark wishlist paints, add custom or mixed paints, and keep notes on your collection. Photo Paint Import Take a photo of your paint rack and let BrushForge help identify paints. Review matches before adding them to your owned list. Recipes & Palettes Create step-by-step painting recipes, save project notes, and build custom color palettes for your models. Color Harmony Tools Explore palette ideas with harmony-based color tools and build stronger color schemes for your miniatures. Primed Photos Save photos of primed models and review contrast, lighting, and value placement while planning your paint scheme. AI-Powered Suggestions Get optional AI help for paint matching and recipe ideas while staying in full creative control. Offline-Friendly Your paint library, collection, recipes, palettes, and core tools are available offline. AI and purchase-related features require an internet connection. Feedback & Support Send feedback, request features, or get help directly through the app. Why BrushForge? • Match paints across brands with less guesswork. • Keep your paint library, recipes, and palettes in one place. • Plan projects faster and spend more time painting. BrushForge is free to use. Optional premium features unlock expanded limits and AI-powered tools while supporting ongoing development. Download BrushForge and focus on what matters most: bringing your miniatures to life. Links: Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Custom Terms of Use: https://brushforgeapp.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://brushforgeapp.com/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
3D Model Viewer and BrushForge both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of BrushForge's written reviews are positive against 20% of 3D Model Viewer's. 3D Model Viewer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. 3D Model Viewer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and BrushForge sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for 3D Model Viewer against 4.4 for BrushForge. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Model Viewer has 344 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 20% of 3D Model Viewer's written reviews are positive against 67% of BrushForge's.
3D Model Viewer ships an update weekly, BrushForge every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 3D Model Viewer | BrushForge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (344 ratings) | 4.4 (12 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 20.5% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 344 — better | 12 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA. | Bastiaan Mahieu |
Customer experience
3D Model Viewer
BrushForge
Bugs and requests
3D Model Viewer
Reported bugs
10 issues- App crashes immediately after upload
- App crashes when importing PLY files
- App crashes after payment
- App crashes when importing large files
- App crashes on iPad Pro
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- VR crashes
- Model centering limits viewing
- Paint function assigns random color
- Incorrect AR sizing
- Y axis is up in AR
Requested features
11 requests- Allow changing background color
- Allow changing lighting positions
- Add axis lock object rotation
- Add way to rotate side to side (turntable)
- Option to slow down rotation/movements
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- Add arrange by recent for downloaded STLs
- Add ability to list most recent STL at top
- Allow models to scale larger in AR mode
- Add free rotation
- Improve AR sizing accuracy
- Use Z axis as up for AR and print sim
BrushForge
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
3D Model Viewer
- Model Viewer Premium$1.99
BrushForge
- Premium Monthly2 variants$2.991 Month
- Tip – Small2 variants$1.99
- Tip – Medium2 variants$9.99
- Premium Lifetime2 variants$14.99
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- Tip – Large$17.99
- Tip – Large$19.99
Questions
Is 3D Model Viewer free?
Is BrushForge free?
Which has better reviews, 3D Model Viewer or BrushForge?
Do 3D Model Viewer or BrushForge have ads?
Which is updated more often, 3D Model Viewer or BrushForge?
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